[Episode 1473] Stalkers Live in Their Phones

Broadcast Date: Friday, September 18, 2026, 10:00 PM

One day, I received contact from a ‘stalker.’

Someone whose name and face I do not know is watching my daily life. They collect information about me by tracking even the photos and comments I leave on social media. With the development of a digital environment where anyone can collect personal information through searches, crimes of ‘non-acquaintance stalking,’ where victims are stalked by people they have never met, are occurring. According to statistics released last year by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the number of stalking cases filed increased by 12.3% compared to the previous year. As social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube, which share daily lives and emphasize ‘intimacy,’ proliferate, online stalking is also on the rise. So, are the current Stalking Punishment Acts adequately responding to this new type of crime? The victims interviewed by Tracking 60 Minutes lament the lack of social awareness and legal regulations regarding non-acquaintance stalking crimes. The reality is that perpetrators cross the line between online and offline, threatening the daily lives of victims. "Tracking 60 Minutes" investigated "non-acquaintance stalking" that began beyond the screen.

■ Stalking That Started with a "Fan"

Former professional gamer Byun Se-hoon has been meeting fans as an online game broadcast BJ since his retirement. However, he has suspended his broadcasts after his personal phone number was accidentally exposed during one. This is because a persistent "fan" continues to make unwanted contact, including a massive volume of messages, emails, and phone calls. The perpetrator does not stop contacting Se-hoon even though he is wearing an electronic ankle monitor due to the stalking. Due to the perpetrator's threats, which even mention his residential area and parents, Se-hoon was unable to even properly go out for a while. The situation is the same for another victim, internet broadcaster Hyun-ju (pseudonym). Although the perpetrator was fined, Hyun-ju also avoids going out and continues to live a secluded life. The production team met with victims suffering from attacks by stalkers who claim to have been "fans" at one time.

“Only he knows me, and honestly, I don’t know a thing about him. He can come to my house or contact me anytime... It’s terrible.”

Former Pro Gamer Byun Se-hoon

■ Stalking Continues Even After Reporting

Bae Jin-young (stage name Suiri), who hosts music broadcasts on YouTube, stated that she has been suffering from stalking for two years. The individual, who approached her claiming to be a fan, changed their attitude drastically when Bae rejected their advances. When Bae filed a police complaint regarding the persistent harassment, the perpetrator began live broadcasting on their YouTube channel. The main content of these broadcasts, which last up to 20 hours a day, consists of slander against Bae and her fans. Although a restraining order was eventually issued, Bae’s suffering has not ended. This is because the perpetrator continues their YouTube live broadcasts. Bae laments, “The provisional measure is completely useless. On the contrary, I feel like I am being mocked.” The production team met directly with the perpetrator, who continues broadcasting even after the restraining order, to hear their story. Why does he not stop this behavior?

What are the characteristics of perpetrators of online stalking? The production team collected the perpetrators' social media messages, Instagram posts, and YouTube videos provided by the victims and commissioned statement analysis experts to analyze them. The experts analyzed that while there are differences depending on the case, the behavior of some perpetrators reveals "unilateral intimacy" and a "desire to form relationships." Professor Kim Tae-kyung of the Department of Counseling Psychology at Seowon University analyzed, "The perpetrator attempts to derive pleasure by establishing the relationship themselves and controlling the other person."

■ Combination of Online and Offline Stalking is on the Rise

Is online stalking a problem limited to "celebrities"? The production team also met with ordinary victims who were not famous. They testified that people they had never met collected their information through social media and even visited their homes or the homes of their family members. The fear stemmed from the fact that a stalker whose face they did not even know might appear at any time and place. Victims complained that they had come to suspect even those around them and suffered mental distress, including panic disorder and social phobia.

Kim Bo-hwa, Director of the Gender Violence Research Institute, who has been researching the victimization of stalking crimes, focused on the patterns in which online and offline stalking are combined. According to recent research, there is a growing trend of cases ...